Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has revealed that he is ready to leave his boyhood club after being excluded from the Manchester derby by coach Ruben Amorim.
Rashford, along with teammate Alejandro Garnacho, has been left out of United's squad for Sunday's match against Manchester City, with Amorim making clear he expects his players to meet certain “criteria”.
The England international has faced increasing criticism for his performances and behavior over the past 18 months, a stark contrast to his impressive 30-goal season under Erik Ten Hag during the 2022-23 season.
Amorim's bold call to omit Rashford and Garnacho eventually paid off, as United came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over their rivals.
Following this decision, reports emerged suggesting that Rashford could leave the club in 2025, with the possibility of a loan move also being discussed.
In an interview with journalist Henry Winter, Rashford admitted that he feels “ready for a new challenge.”
“For me personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” he said.
🚨 Marcus Rashford: “For me personally, I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps.” @Henry Winter.
“When I leave, I will not have any negative feelings. You will not have any negative comments from me about Manchester United.”
“This is me. I will always be a red player.” pic.twitter.com/KKtuXjohMJ
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2024
“When I leave, I won't have any negative feelings. You won't have any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That's who I am as a person.
“If I knew the situation was already bad I wouldn't make it worse. I've seen how other players have left in the past and I don't want to be that person. When I leave I will make a statement and it will be from me.”
When asked if he would always be 'Red', Rashford stressed his loyalty, saying: “Yes! 100%. 100%.”
Considering his exclusion from the derby match, Rashford admitted it was a tough pill to swallow.
“It's disappointing to be left out of the derby,” he admitted. “But that's what happened, we won the game so let's move on. It's disappointing but I'm also someone who can deal with setbacks as I get older. What am I going to do about it? Sit there and cry about it. Or do my best next time I I will be available.
Despite the recent difficulties, Rashford remains confident in his ability to adapt to Amorim's system, stating that while he can play in multiple positions, some roles come more naturally to him.
Marcus Rashford said he was 'ready for a new challenge' when asked if he could leave Manchester United 🗞 pic.twitter.com/HFHtr9Ibht
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 17, 2024
“I have the attributes to play in all three positions. Some positions are more natural for me, and some positions I have to practice more and do more tactical work. The left side suits me more,” he explained.
“The left ten still suits me but you have to adapt to your playing style. The biggest skill set is the ability to adapt. People may not see that, but in the end they will see that I played in many different positions under all the coaches.
“I'm in the middle of my career. I don't expect to reach my peak now. I've spent nine years now in the Premier League, and it has taught me a lot and helped me grow as a player and as a person.
“So I have no regrets about the last nine years. I will have no regrets moving forward because I take things day by day, and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I'm just trying to keep a good balance. 100% (the best is yet to come) After) This is my mentality.”
